Automated Surface Cleaner

ABSTRACT

An automated cleaning apparatus fashioned for programmed cleaning of a surface wherein the apparatus comprises: a unit housing for an enclosed mechanism, a conductive contact strip provided on a surface, a controller having a processor confirmed to control the output of translational device movement. The apparatus is prompted to travel along the cross-sectional area of the surface in a translational motion, wherein buildup of any undesirable substance is removed from the surface by protruding bristles from the housing of the mechanism that remain in contact with the surface.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present disclosure generally relates to an autonomous cleaning device such as a robotic mechanism that is sufficiently programmed to move upon user input, and pertains to the field of cleaning tools.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PRIOR ART

The prior art devices are not particularly selective with regard to the method of cleaning a surface. Specifically, the prior art does not provide an autonomous solution for such a cleaning process of a specified surface other than a floor; instead, a hands-on approach is required by the user to remove dust and undesirable matter buildup from the specified surface. Prior art devices that pertain to the cleaning of a given surface aside from the ground, operate based on methods such as handheld dusting mechanisms, or dust sleeves that enclose the given surface before dust removal.

However, both of these processes require constant interaction from the user. This kind of approach can lead to different variations of health risks, including excessive inhalation of unwanted particles; users may have asthma, allergies, or other possible age-related health issues which propose extreme health risks during this process. In the very least, this process may simply introduce a significant degree of inconvenience to the user.

SUMMARY

In view of the above defects existing in prior art, an object of the present invention is to solve the technical problem by providing an autonomous cleaning device that can prevent the circumstance of dangerous or inconvenient interaction by the user during the cleaning process.

In order to accomplish the above object, the present invention provides a device comprising a unit housing along with electrical contact strips, wherein the housing comprises: a translational arrangement including an electric motor, a gear arrangement coupled to the translational arrangement in which it is configured to move the housing on a specified surface, and one or more electrical contacts that are configured to receive power from the contact strips while the housing is travelling on the surface.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 provides a perspective view of a housing used in the present disclosure.

FIG. 2 provides a cross-sectional view of the housing disposed on a surface.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

For the purposes of promoting an understanding of the principles of the present disclosure, reference will now be made to the embodiments illustrated in the drawings, and specific language will be used to describe the same. It will nevertheless be understood that no limitation of the scope of this disclosure is thereby intended.

In the present disclosure, the term “about” can allow for a degree of variability in a value or range, for example, within 10%, within 5%, or within 1% of a stated value or of a stated limit of a range.

In the present disclosure, the term “substantially” can allow for a degree of variability in a value or range, for example, within 90%, within 95%, or within 99% of a stated value or of a stated limit of a range.

FIG. 1 illustrates an automated surface cleaning assembly (also referred to as cleaning apparatus) 5 according to the present invention, disposed on a prospective surface 1 in a preferred embodiment of the present invention. On the sides of the surface 1 are a first and second rack gears 3 that allow for translational movement of the cleaning assembly 5 along the surface 1. At the end of the surface 1 are a multiplicity of holes 4 which are applied for mounting purposes to a hub. Along the middle of the surface 1, are a plurality of electrical contact strips 2 that provide a means of electrical conduction to the one or more electrical contacts connected to an electric motor 9 within the housing 11. These contact strips 2 are hardwired through the surface 1 in this embodiment, wherein they receive a charge to power the electric motor 9. This assembly 5 can be mounted to the top of varying surfaces for the action of cleaning the said mounted surface.

FIG. 2 illustrates the translational arrangement disposed within the cleaning assembly 5 and the prospective surface 1. Mounted within a unit housing 11 which shields components within the assembly 5 from the external environment, is the electric motor 9 that is utilized to drive one or more rotating shafts (also referred to herein as driveshaft or shaft) 8. The electric motor 9 within the housing 11 is equipped with an internal brake that prevents shaft 8 rotation, thus preventing assembly 5 translation, when the electric motor 9 is not receiving electrical power. The electric motor 9 can be an alternating current motor, a direct current motor, a stepper motor, or other suitable electrical motors known to a person having ordinary skill in the art.

Further shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, is a gear arrangement 20 which includes a first and second pinion gears 22 and 28, respectively, coupled to the driveshaft 8 (the driveshaft can be a single driveshaft extending through the electric motor 9, or two separate driveshafts each coupled to a corresponding end of the electric motor 9), a first and second pinion-drive gears 24 and 30, respectively, each coupled to a corresponding first and second pinion gears 22 and 28, respectively, a first and second drive gears 26 and 32, respectively, each coupled to a corresponding first and second pinion-drive gears 24 and 30, respectively, and a first and second rack gears 3A and 3B, respectively, coupled to a corresponding first and second drive gears 26 and 32, respectively.

Furthermore, rack gears 3A and 3B are provided to engage with the first and second drive gears 26 and 32, respectively, thus allowing the linear translation of the cleaning assembly 5 to move translationally across the surface 1 from a rest position (shown in FIG. 1 as the position of the cleaning assembly 5 at the right-hand side of FIG. 1 to a deployed position (not shown) on the left-hand side of FIG. 1). The first and second pinion-drive gears 24 and 30 respectively, and the first and second drive gears 26 and 32, respectively, are mounted on D brackets 13A and 13B, respectively. The driving force of rotation of the plurality of linear gears 6 is a plurality of miter gear 7 pairings, wherein each pairing contains a single miter gear 7 that is connected directly to one or more rotating shafts 8.

Furthermore, in FIG. 2, depending on the one or more shafts 8, there will exist an equivalent number of one or more shaft mounts 10 within the housing 11, wherein the one or more shaft mounts 10 keep the one or more shafts 8 in relative position.

Referring to FIG. 2, a plurality of cleaning brushes 12 are implanted into a plurality of holes (not shown) on the bottom of the housing 11. In this embodiment, the plurality of brushes 12 are comprised of synthetic materials, wherein the brushes 12 diameter range between about 0.05 mm and about 1 mm. The plurality of brushes 12 are slightly compressed onto the surface 1 by the housing 11, for the purpose of maintaining direct contact with the surface 1, clearing undesirable matter buildup as the assembly 5 moves translationally along the surface 1.

According to a preferred embodiment of the present invention, as shown in FIG. 1, automated translational movement of the assembly 5 requires programming through a programmable motor controller having a processor, and is to control the translation movement of the housing 11.

Preferred embodiments of the present invention have been illustrated above with the purpose of understanding that variations and modifications can be implemented by an ordinary field technician according to the conception of the present invention. Thus, all the technical arrangements obtained through analysis and deduction based on the present invention by ordinary field technicians, are within the scope of the claims. 

What is claimed is:
 1. An automated cleaning apparatus comprising: a housing for an enclosed mechanism; a translational arrangement disposed in the housing; one or more electrical contacts, configured to receive power from one or more electrical contact strips provided on a surface; a gear arrangement coupled to the translational arrangement, and configured to move the housing across the surface; and a controller having a processor configured to control the translational movement of the housing.
 2. The apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a plurality of protruding cleaning brushes disposed on the underside of the housing.
 3. The apparatus according to claim 2, each of the plurality of cleaning brushes has a diameter between about 0.05 mm to about 1 mm
 4. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the translational arrangement comprises an electric motor inside the housing that drives rotation of one or more shafts that are coupled to said gear arrangement.
 5. The apparatus according to claim 4, wherein the electric motor contains an internal brake that prevents translational movement of the apparatus when the apparatus is not in use.
 6. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the gear arrangement comprises a first and second pinion gears coupled to a driveshaft, a first and second pinion-drive gears each coupled to a corresponding first and second pinion gears, a first and second drive gears each coupled to a corresponding first and second pinion-drive gears, and a first and second rack gears coupled to a corresponding first and second drive gears.
 7. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said controller is configured to move the housing from a rest position to a predetermined end position and back to the rest position.
 8. The apparatus of claim 7, wherein the predetermined position is selective by a selection dial.
 9. The apparatus of claim 9, further comprising user input for regularity of translational device movement along the surface.
 10. The apparatus of claim 9, further comprising user input for translational speed. 